Batman is one of the most well-known characters in the world and has earned a place in any doctoral student’s thesis about “Modern Myths”. With a history that spans more than eighty years it can be hard to know where to jump in. Below is a list of some of my favorite Batman stories that will get you well on your way to beefing up your Batman knowledge during this quarantine.
- Hush– I’ll start with what is the most controversial entry into this list. And while it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, Hush still stands as one of the most important and influential Batman stories of the modern era. It makes a major addition to Batman’s rogue’s gallery and gives a great deal of depth to the Batman/Catwoman dynamic. Maybe hold off on this one until you’ve read a few others on this list. But definitely an essential read.
- No Man’s Land- After an earthquake the U.S. government declares Gotham a “No Man’s Land”. Completely on their own and with no sign of the Bat, the city descends into chaos. A year-long story that ran across all of the Bat-books, you can just follow the core story, or you can read every tie-in you can get your hands on. I recommend the latter. Every member of Batman’s rogues gallery gets a chance to shine here in a very back to basics tale. The maps alone should get you hooked on this one.
- The Court of Owls- Conspiracy, paranoia, and a mystery even the world’s greatest detective can’t solve in time. A great edition to the canon and a great starting place as this is the story that kicks off Batman’s New 52 relaunch. This story culminates in the “Night of the Owls” crossover which is fantastic and sets the tone for the Bat-family’s new dynamic.
- Under the Hood– Another game-changing story arc that goes out of its way to answer once and for all the question we all keep asking “Why doesn’t Batman just kill the Joker?”.
- The Long Halloween- A masterpiece and perhaps my favorite Batman story of all time. This story incorporates so many of the classic Batman story beats and the character work is outstanding. A twelve-issue mystery that will keep you guessing until the final pages.
- Knightfall- The story of how Bane broke the Bat. And how Batman put himself together again. The artwork is a little dated and the dialogue somewhat stilted, but the story beats are strong enough to pull you past that and appreciate it for what it is, a cornerstone of Batman lore.
- Year One- The origin of Batman as told by Frank Miller. ‘Nuff Said.
- The Killing Joke- This story becomes more problematic as the years go on, but that doesn’t make it any less of an essential read. Joker tries to prove to Batman that all it takes is one bad day to turn a good man insane.The good man in question? Jim Gordon. Trigger warnings abound in perhaps the most darkly violent Batman story ever told.
- The Dark Knight Returns- The gold standard. The most influential Batman story ever told. Dark, gritty, and unrelentingly brutal; this story of an aged Batman coming out of retirement to put Gotham right defined a generation of storytellers and its influence is still being felt today.
- Batman Eternal– A fifty-two issue mystery that serves as an homage to every batman story that came before. Its elevation of obscure bit-players in the Batman mythos to starring roles changes our expectations of what a great Batman story could be. Another personal favorite of mine.